DESERT ISLAND

(TOPIC: INTRODUCTIONS / ICEBREAKERS)

Instructions

THIS ACTIVITY REQUIRES STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON A PROBLEM AND THEN COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THIS ACTIVITY ALSO PROMOTES CREATIVITY AS STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SHARE SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

ASK STUDENTS TO GET INTO GROUPS OF 4 OR 5

ONCE STUDENTS ARE IN THEIR GROUPS EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THEY WILL SOON BE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND. THEY ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE ONE ITEM EACH TO THE ISLAND AND IT CAN BE ANYTHING. EXPLAIN TO STUDENTS THAT THEN ITEM DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PRACTICAL IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT MEANS A LOT TO THEM.

ONCE EVERYONE HAS DECIDED ON THEIR CHOSEN ITEM ASK THEM TO SHARE IT WITH THEIR GROUP AND EXPLAIN WHY THEY CHOSE IT. FOR EXAMPLE A GUITAR BECAUSE THEY LOVE MUSIC OR THEIR DOG BECAUSE THEY LOVE THEIR DOG.

ONCE EVERYONE HAS SHARED THEIR ITEM WITH THEIR GROUP EXPLAIN THAT EACH GROUP NOW NEEDS TO FIND A WAY THAT ALL THESE ITEMS CAN BE USED TOGETHER! ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY. AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES GROUPS CAN SHARE THEIR ITEMS AND HOW THEY CAN BE USED ALL TOGETHER WITH THE WHOLE CLASS.

DEBRIEF: STUDENTS CAN RECORD ONE POSITIVE THING THEY LEARNED ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE IN THEIR CLASS BOOK. CONSIDER AT LEAST ONE THING ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY THAT SEEMED TO OR MIGHT HAVE CHALLENGED SOME PEOPLE. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT-AND THIS IS A GOOD THING.